Favorite Finds Friday 9/30

It's time for another round of Favorite Finds Friday! 

Check out all of the cute, creative things out there, and don't forget to print the Hobby Lobby coupon at the bottom of this post to go have some crafty fun of your own!  ;)

Ok!  To the Finds!
 

Check out this headboard!  Isn't it gorgeous?  I think it looks so sophisticated and expensive.  No, that's not from Pottery Barn... it was made by Jess of A Few of My Favorite Things.  Make sure to go check out her awesome tutorial on how to make your own tufted headboard!

I treat my dogs like people - I admit that openly and freely.  I like to spoil them in all ways... and Annalea from Make it Give it just gave me a great new way to do so!  She has a wonderful tutorial on how to make your own doggy treats!  Jake will look at me like I've lost my mind, but I'm soooo going to do this!

Now that the doggies have their tummies full of treats, it's time for us, right?  Look at these oh-so-yummy looking No Bake Cake Batter Truffles whipped up by Chef in Training.  I need these.  In my mouth.  Now!  Don't you?  Go check out the recipe!

Just look at this AMAZING dresser re-do!  Suesan over at Frou-Fru Gal really did an amazing job on this piece.  Make sure to go check out her tutorial to learn how you can create your own amazing dresser.  Oh, and P.S.  Can you believe the re-do cost her just $40.48?! 

So PRETTY.  So absolutely lovely.  Just so LOVELY and PRETTY.  Don't you think?  Natalie from Beach House in the City gives a great tutorial on how to make your own vintage mason jar vases.  Light pink roses in light blue jars.  Gasp - just TOO pretty.  :)

Inspired?  How could you not be?  Let me help you out by giving your this coupon to Hobby Lobby!  Go today or tomorrow because it expires soon! :)

Lots of Lovin' Weekend Hop

Lots of Lovin’ Weekend Blog Hop

Hosted by :

Life According to Damaris (http://lifeaccordingtodamaris.com)

Co-Hosted by:

Where Nothing Good Comes Easy (http://wherenothinggoodcomeseasy.blogspot.com/)

It’s a Sun Kissed Life (http://itsasunkissedlife.blogspot.com/)

Answers from the Queen of Useless Information (http://www.alianswers.blogspot.com/)

Gumdrop Pass (http://gumdroppass.blogspot.com)

Sharing the love all weekend long!

This blog hop  is a NO RULES blog hop for GFC follows, Facebook likes, Twitter follows, Alexa reviews & whatever other social network out there.

Anything goes AS LONG AS IT’S FAMILY FRIENDLY. Anything that’s not family friendly will be deleted but I trust there won’t be any spammers.

When you enter your information in the linky list, be sure to write what you want next to your blog name. Example: Life According to Damaris (Alexa) if I want someone to review my blog at Alexa, Life According to Damaris (Facebook) if I want a Facebook like, etc. You can add as many links as you want to all of your social networks.

The only thing we ask is if someone reviews, likes or follows you, please try & return the favor. But most importantly, have FUN & it’s not mandatory but if you’d like, grab the button to spread the word about the Blog Hop so more people can join!

Feel free to leave a text link to your blog.
This is a NO RULES blog hop for any social network. Please look at the examples to see how to enter your links. The only thing we ask is if someone follows, likes, etc. to you - return the favor if you can & have FUN!


Feel free to leave a text link to your blog.
This is a NO RULES blog hop for any social network. Please look at the examples to see how to enter your links. The only thing we ask is if someone follows, likes, etc. to you - return the favor if you can & have FUN!



Feel free to leave a text link to your blog.
This is a NO RULES blog hop for any social network. Please look at the examples to see how to enter your links. The only thing we ask is if someone follows, likes, etc. to you - return the favor if you can & have FUN!

Feel free to leave a text link to your blog.
This is a NO RULES blog hop for any social network. Please look at the examples to see how to enter your links. The only thing we ask is if someone follows, likes, etc. to you - return the favor if you can & have FUN!

I had a bad day.

Yesterday was stupid. 

Or yesterday I was stupid.  I let the little things get to me (which is funny - more on that in a minute).  Ah, the little things.  See what I mean with this handy little list:

• Yesterday morning right before I left for work, Jake told me he had 2 softball games that night.  Wait.  Wasn't softball over?  No.  He said he would play for this fall league.  Please let me explain why this bothers me.  I know I am being selfish and a bad person.  I know this.  But it bothers me because it leaves me with everything to do - if we lived in a house, it wouldn't be AS bad because I could just throw the dogs outside into the backyard (4 more weeks!).  But, as it is in our current situation, I have to wrestle two dogs outside - one who is 75 punds and barks at every single dog he sees like he is going to destroy it (he wouldn't) - but still.  He's a lot to manage.  Doing this with a two year old is hard.  It puts me in a bad mood.  Again, I'm stupid and I know it... that on top of all of the laundry that needed to be done and the general messiness of the place just got to me.  Again - the littlest, stupidest things.  Oh, and the fact that Jake had waited until the absolute last minute to tell me about softball.  I hate being bombarded with things - I'm a planner and I like to know things ahead of time.  And he knows this.  Okay.  I'm done with that one.  I'm dramatic and pathetic, aren't I?
• A stuck up, mean, horrible, really horrible, jerk-faced witch woman was SO incredibly mean and rude to me on the phone at work.  I was just collecting her information to set up her account - strictly routine.  She acted like I was an idiot the whole time and that I was going to steal her identity or something.  I completely get being apprehensive about giving out your information but that in no way constitutes making another person who is just doing her job feel like absolute crap.  I really don't understand why people are so mean and feel that it is okay to talk to others in such a derogatory manner.  Grr.
• I picked up Logan at daycare.  This was good!  Then I got this report (again, all good things!) about Logan and his fellow Linus.  It just made my heart ache a little for both of them when Logan will have his last day next Friday.

"talked about Donald Duck and Minnie with Tyler.  :)  It was so funny.  :)"

•  The I arrived home to Logan not wanting to eat anything and two frustrating dogs.  After an hour of trying to get Logan to eat, I gave up.  I gave Logan a bath and put him to bed early because he was such a crab.  I then immediately felt guilty about this because I should have spent more time with him and should be a good mommy.  I then put the dishes away and cleaned the kitchen, but refused to do the laundry.  I then felt guilty about that.  The dogs were being annoying, so I yelled at them.  I then felt guilty about that.  I called Jake and took out my frustrations of the day on him.  I then felt extremely guilty about that - you know being a bad wife.  I sent 3 apologies via text message.  That should help, right?  

So, in summary, I just sucked it up again yesterday.  I let all of the little things get to me to where I did not give my best to anyone and I ended up in the shower crying while shampooing.  Awesome, right?

What's funny about the whole thing is that I have been reading a book that Meg over at A Meg Moment was so kind and generous to send me.  When I read this book, I feel so at peace and feel like I'm learning how to be a better person, what to do when things get difficult, and how to give my best and my all to other people.  I close the book feeling refreshed and guided -- and then I fail because of the littlest things.  I obviously still have a lot of work to do, huh? 

Well that was yesterday.  Today I will try to be better.  That's all we can do, right?  :)

I hope your yesterday was far better than mine.  I hope your today and tomorrows are wonderful, too!  I do apologize for my self-indulgent rant.  Now I feel guilty about this post!  lol. 

Word-ish Wednesday

I will not even attempt a Wordless Wednesday because I know I have to write something.   So sue me.

This picture was taken this past Sunday.  I bought two boxes of crayons a couple of weeks ago (one for Logan and one for a project I'm planning on doing for his new room!) and I forgot about them.  He spotted them on the counter and said, "Mommy?  Can we color pwease?" 

How could I say no to that.  We pulled out an Elmo coloring book and got to work.  It was so much fun!  I think we colored about 1/3 of the book.... and I may have had a better time coloring than Logan!  Ha!  It was just very relaxing and fun.  Ahh, to be a child again!

I had some nice, quiet, not-run-around-like-a-maniac time with my little guy.  It's hard to get him to sit still for more than a few minutes.  I think we colored for almost an hour, though!  Hmm... so my fears about not being able to provide enough stimulation for him when I return to SAHM-dom?  We'll just get creative!  I see lots of trips to the craft store in the future... (7 more workdays, btw!)

And for those of you who thought my little bug turned into a muted, well behaved child - NEVER FEAR!  He returned to his wild ways:

(Ooh, that chipped tooth bothers me so much!  It's just a testament to how much of a wild man he is, though...)  :)

Wobble Over Wednesday Hop

Amanda over at My Life with Rats and more was nice enough (and I was lucky enough!) to be featured as the #2 spot on this week's Wobble Over Wednesday hop! Make sure to stop by and link up - I've found some great blogs through this one and have gotten great followers.  Also, just by linking up you get the chance to be a future #2 spot (which comes with a week of free ad space!).  Very generous, right?  Go ahead!  Link up!  Hop!  Have fun! :)

How to eat whatever you want and still lose weight!

I know, I know.  I sound like a tacky infomercial, right?  Well, I just have to share this with you because... well, in the past 3 weeks I have lost 7 pounds!  :)  Hoo-RAH!

I have done this while still indulging in Ben and Jerry's cake batter ice cream.  I've also had pizza from Papa Murphy's.  I think I've had McDonald's once in the last 3 weeks, too.  I still get my lattes a few times a week.

It sounds too good to be true, doesn't it?  It all goes back to that saying that, "Everything is fine in moderation."  Oh, how I had hated that saying in the past!  I just thought that, in order to lose weight, you need to cut out all sugar and fat from your diet.  You have to eat like a rabbit and run 20 miles a day.  Well, it turns out you don't.  Let me explain my personal experiences from these past three weeks.

It all started here.  I decided that it was time to spend sometime bettering myself.  I wanted to feel better about myself, have more energy, yadda yadda yadda.  Then, I turned to my friend Jillian.  She kicked my but for a few days strait.  Then I talked about some of my revelations here.  So it has been about 14 days since I last wrote about my workout/eating/get rid of the excess baby "love" around my waist.  Well, here's an update:

• Jillian still kicks my butt.  I do the workout at least 3 times a week - I try to do more, but I don't commit to do more.  That way, I don't feel as if I fail.  On the days that I don't do the work out, I at least try to do some ab work while watching TV, walk the dogs, or both.  You know, just so I'm doing something.
• I eat.  Here's the kicker:  I don't deprive myself.  Pay close attention here, because if you're anything like me, this revelation may help you.  As mentioned, in the past, when I thought of dieting I thought of working out all of the time and eating very little.  How often does this actually work?  Yeah.  No.  I always had the thought of I'm going to start my diet tomorrow, so I'll just splurge a little today.  That brings me to my next big revelation: 
• One splurge would lead to another.  This is just my cheat day.  I'm starting my diet tomorrow so I'll just get it all out of my system today.  A Venti Pumpkin Spice latte would lead to pizza.  Pizza would lead to chips.  Chips would lead to ice cream.  Get my point?  I would consume waaaayyyy too many calories with the notion that I was to start my diet the next day.  As I mentioned... how likely is it to stick to a rabbit food diet?  Not very, right?  So I may had stuck with it a day or two, but then I would crave sugar and indulge in ice cream with the notion that I would get back to my diet the next day.  Well, that ice cream would lead to chips... because I hadn't had them in a few days and I was already cheating... chips would lead to another thing and another thing.  So all of the work I had put in was for nothing.  
• Now remember that annoying little slogan?  Everything is fine in moderation.  These last three weeks I have not deprived myself.  When I wanted something sweet, I allowed myself to have it.  I did not eat a PINT of Ben and Jerry's because I had not deprived myself of sweets for a few days.  I ate about 1/3 of the pint and was more than satisfied.  I actually did not want the rest of the ice cream for the rest of the week and I so graciously gave it to Jake.  When I wanted pizza, I allowed myself to have it.  I ate a couple of slices and was satisfied.
• I think that this goes hand in hand with hard work.  Because I work out now - ESPECIALLY because I do not do strenuous work outs EVERY day - I'm more aware of my food choices.  I want my workouts to count!  So by watching what I eat - and NOT splurging (you know, my previous "cheat days"), I am able to have my workouts count while eating yummy foods still.  Again, all in moderation.  I have incorporated more healthy choices into my diets and have found yummy ways to prepare them.

• I almost forgot this bullet - the extra "love" around my waist.  Well, it's diminishing.  Substantially.  My pants are looser.  I'm fitting into some of my old, pre-Logan clothes.  I'm excited to wear the bachelorette attire in a couple of weekends.     

***

 

Again, nothing I'm saying is anything new.  However, I just didn't get it until recently.  My thinking was all screwed up - for some reason I just couldn't wrap my head around the concept.  Now that I have, I'm SO glad.  It actually works!  Crazy, huh?

 

What has worked for you all in the past?  Any secrets (or things that really aren't-so-secret after all) to share?

 

Have a great Tuesday!  :)

       

Obsessed - Pan Am FASHION

I was not planning on watching Pan Am last night. I watched the Desperate Housewives premiere and Pan Am just happened to be on next. Without a new Real Housewives of New Jersey to watch (bummer, right?), I decided to leave the TV on ABC.

The show itself, was actually kind of a pleasant surprise. I know it's gotten great critic reviews, but I'm always skeptical. I won't go into too much of a review of the actual show, but OH MY GOSH, the FASHION!  Why, oh why was I not alive during this era?!  The hair, the clothes, the styling... it's all so beautiful and classy.  Check out what I mean (I did want to create a nicely put together collage, but alas:  blogging at work and photo editing unfortunately does not go hand in hand).

Can we talk about it all?  I so want to wear one of these uniforms.  If I were to dress up for Halloween this year...

Oh, there is just something so glamorous about it isn't there?  You can say I'm setting Womens' rights back a few years, but whatever.  Oh to be a sexy stewardess in the 60s!  ;)

Again, just so stunning.

Ok... two things.  1)  The BAG!  I want one.  I want one so bad.  2)  Christina Ricci!  I love her.  It may have something to do with her staring in Casper in 1995 and me wishing I were her so I could kiss Devin Sawa (remember him?!).  But still!  I'm very excited to see her on TV.

If anyone watched it... please tell me that you saw the wedding dress that was shown in one of the flashback scenes.  I googled it over and over and could not find it.  If I were getting married soon... I know exactly what I would be looking for.  It was BEAUTIFUL.

I definitely wanted to be a Pan Am girl at the end of the show.  I now feel the need to cut my hair shorter and style it like Christina's... find a cute little hat... wear white gloves... and walk around knowing that I am the poo.  

Did anyone else watch?   Whatdya think?

Lots of Lovin' Weekend Hop

Lots of Lovin’ Weekend Blog Hop

Hosted by :

Life According to Damaris (http://lifeaccordingtodamaris.com)

Co-Hosted by:

Where Nothing Good Comes Easy (http://wherenothinggoodcomeseasy.blogspot.com/)

It’s a Sun Kissed Life (http://itsasunkissedlife.blogspot.com/)

Answers from the Queen of Useless Information (http://www.alianswers.blogspot.com/)

Gumdrop Pass (http://gumdroppass.blogspot.com)

Sharing the love all weekend long!

This blog hop  is a NO RULES blog hop for GFC follows, Facebook likes, Twitter follows, Alexa reviews & whatever other social network out there.

Anything goes AS LONG AS IT’S FAMILY FRIENDLY. Anything that’s not family friendly will be deleted but I trust there won’t be any spammers.

When you enter your information in the linky list, be sure to write what you want next to your blog name. Example: Life According to Damaris (Alexa) if I want someone to review my blog at Alexa, Life According to Damaris (Facebook) if I want a Facebook like, etc. You can add as many links as you want to all of your social networks.

The only thing we ask is if someone reviews, likes or follows you, please try & return the favor. But most importantly, have FUN & it’s not mandatory but if you’d like, grab the button to spread the word about the Blog Hop so more people can join!

Feel free to leave a text link to your blog.
This is a NO RULES blog hop for any social network. Please look at the examples to see how to enter your links. The only thing we ask is if someone follows, likes, etc. to you - return the favor if you can & have FUN!


Feel free to leave a text link to your blog.
This is a NO RULES blog hop for any social network. Please look at the examples to see how to enter your links. The only thing we ask is if someone follows, likes, etc. to you - return the favor if you can & have FUN!



Feel free to leave a text link to your blog.
This is a NO RULES blog hop for any social network. Please look at the examples to see how to enter your links. The only thing we ask is if someone follows, likes, etc. to you - return the favor if you can & have FUN!

Favorite Finds Friday 9/23

I do so much love searching over blog land for the cutest, most creative (or delicious!) things out there.  Here is this week's roundup of my Favorite Finds!  (Don't fret - a graphic and button is in the process of being made for these posts... and by in the process, I mean I've been thinking about it for 2 weeks and haven't done it yet!)

Mrs. G. over at Growing Up Gardner gives an awesome tutorial on a No Sew Pumpkin Tu-tu.  I keep finding the CUTEST things that are made for girls... it has me really rethinking my declaration to only have boys.  If you have a girl, you simply MUST make this for her.  The tutorial looks so easy to follow and is very well laid out!

Lady Behind the Curtain shows us how to make these beautiful, delicious Candy Corn Caramel Apples.  Don't they look DELICIOUS?  I deem them the perfect fall treat!  :)

 

I really love what Krista of While He Was Napping did with this DIY wall art.  She was inspired by Pottery Barn's design, but no so inspired by the hefty price tag.  She whipped up these darling little pieces herself - and I love them!  I might have to do something similar for Logan's big boy room!

Look at these glitter acorns I found over at Life is a Party!  Aren't the so pretty?  I never would have thought to do this to those annoying things that always fall on my car.  ;)  Go to the post to see how you can display them around the house!

It seems I can't get through a FFF without posting a wreath or something monogrammed.  Amy over at One Artsy Mama combines both of these loves into this gorgeous wreath!  She has an EXCELLENT tutorial on how to make each lovely piece of this wreath.  Go see! 

I love that all but one of my finds were about Fall... Fall just inspires so many cute things, doesn't it?  The colors, the materials... it's just a lovely season, huh?  I hope you enjoyed this week's roundup! 

Now head to Hobby Lobby to get your craft on!  :)

Have a beautiful weekend!

Linuses

My son is a Linus. 

He loves his blankie, and while he does not take it with him everywhere, he would if he could.  As soon as we get home from anywhere, he runs to find his blankie.  When I wash it, he throws a fit (until recently when he decided it's okay if "Bwankie gets a bath in the RAIN!").  

Ever since he was a wee little baby, he has had one corner of the blankie that is his favorite.  It has two strings coming out of it as opposed to the one corner with no string and the two corners with the one string.  He takes that corner and sniffs it.  He presses that  corner to his nostrils and just sniffs.  Before we leave the house, he has to have one last sniff of his blankie.  It's his comfort and his safety.  It's very adorable and weird, lol.  But nonetheless, it is definitely a Linus quality.

***

I dropped Logan off at daycare yesterday, all the way in I kept thinking,  Only 12 more days of this and then you won't come here anymore and you'll get to play with Mommy all day.  I was quite happy with this until I went to drop Logan off in his room. 

Logan has a buddy named Tyler.  ("Ty-wer!").  They have been buddies since Logan has started there.  They're almost exactly the same age, so they have traveled to the different rooms together.  

Momma.  I play twucks with Ty-wer!

Momma.  Ty-wer in da tunnels with me!

I have been feeling bad that we're going to take Logan away from his buddy.  I know, that might seem silly, but I get sad when I think about puppies being taken away from the others in the litter.  I'm weird and overly sensitive about things...  

And then yesterday morning, when I dropped Logan off, Tyler was sitting there by the trucks waiting for him... with his very own blankie.  I'd never seen Tyler with his blankie before and it just hit that soft spot in my heart.  Tyler has a blankie that he loves, too.  My Linus has found another Linus.

How am I going to take Logan away from his best friend Tyler, who he has so much in common with?!  ;)  I laugh as I write this, because it really does sound so silly.  But my worry comes from a different source, too.

Am I going to be able to give Logan everything that daycare has provided him with?  (Doesn't that sound a bit backwards?)  What I mean is:  Where is Logan going to be able to socialize with other kids once he's at home with me?  I'm I going to be able to hold his attention long enough to teach him everything that he would have learned at daycare?  And they questions go on and on.

Hm.  I guess as a mother you feel guilty and worry about absolutely everything.  It just comes with the territory, right?  

I just hope that Logan will find another Linus to be friends with. 

Barnes & Noble: I heart you.

With Jake at a bachelor party and Logan playing with my mom, last Friday, I found I had some free time to just... be free.  I did have to go shopping for a bridal shower gift (all of us bridesmaids were putting together a honeymoon getaway basket) and my portion of the gift was to be magazines and books.  So I ventured out to Barnes and Noble.

Now, I have been there a thousand times, but I haven't really been there (baby free) much in the past couple of years.  When I had gone, it was a get in get out situation.  It had been entirely too long since I had the chance to roam.  What's more, since I had the chance to roam with a nice hot, convenient Starbucks Pumpkin Spice latte in my hand - you know, from the the counter over by the magazines?   

Can I just say that this was one of the most relaxing, fun, all-for-me times I have had in awhile?  I spent a little over an hour in there (I easily could have spent a lot more time, but shoes were needing to be bought!), just browsing and leafing through books.  Books, books, books!  How I love thee!  And how I had forgotten my love of thee! 

I did not walk out with anything material for me - some hunting magazines for Josh, a Cosmo and a Marie Clair for Amy, and a couple of books about marriage and cooking for them to laugh at me for buying... but I walked out with a new idea for me.  I walked out knowing I had found my new thing.  My new safe haven (you know, for when I need to get away from football or an argument?).  I picture waking up early on a Saturday or Sunday and heading to Barnes & Noble to grab the caffeinated beverage of my choice and just roam.  Just enjoy.  Just be happy.  Ah, sweet serenity. :)

Do you have a thing?  A safe haven?  A happy place, if you will?  :)

3 years already?

Well ladies and gentleman (really, I don't think that any gentlemen read my blog, but if you do...), today is my and Jake's 3 year anniversary.

Say whaaat?!  Seriously, that was 3 years ago?  That makes me feel old.  Not old.  Sad.  No, not really sad... it makes me feel like time is flying and I have no control over it.  So eventually that will make me feel old, and probably sad as well.

I will not go into our marriage in detail year by year.  That would be terribly boring, I'm sure.  Suffice it to say, that marriage has gotten easier as the years go on.  Shortly after we got married, I got pregnant.  At 24, Jake may have lacked the maturity and understanding that a very mature 23 year old pregnant lady needs.  That was difficult.  Cut to the second year.  We had our handful of a baby (who we LOVE so much!) and the stress of moving away from family and friends.  This was by far the hardest thing we have been through.  There were lots of fights due to stress... fights that would not have happened, if our situation was different, I'm sure... but then we grew.  Literally, we grew up a LOT these past few months and I think that has helped us as a couple.  We realize what is important, and although we're not perfect (even me!), we're learning to accept each other and love each other for our differences rather than trying to change one another.  How grown up is that?  ;)

To reminisce just a smidgen, here are a few pictures taken on that delightful day back in 2008.  

Forever was sealed with a kiss.

I love this picture because we're both looking at "our" sides.  "Look what we just did!"

Really, you must get married in a vineyard.  You must.

Did anyone really think that I wouldn't?

Now this just makes me miss my friends even more!

Here's to many more years of maturing together!  Haha.  We're actually so mature that tonight we will celebrate by eating spaghetti and watching TV.  We'll go to dinner and do a Logan included date this weekend.  Maybe we'll do it a bit bigger next year?  For this year, I will take the wake up kiss on the forehead, my spaghetti, and the Jersey Shore episode I have waiting on the DVR...  I obviously still have more maturing to do.  ;)

Monday Mish Mash

Is it Monday already?  Boo.  But hey, you know what is good about being away from the computer for three days while you visit family/shop til you drop/have a great time?  You get to come back and read all of the wonderful comments put on your posts, others' posts, and even wonderful little surprises like this one:

Robyn over at Tips from the Heart for the Home was SO nice to feature a couple of my posts on her Follow Me Friday feature.  As soon as I hopped over to her blog and saw this, I just felt so happy.  It was definitely a great pick me up on this dreary, rainy Monday morning.  It's the little things, people!

If your don't already follow Robyn, you should!  I've only been following her for a few weeks now, but it feels longer just from the kind of blogger she is.  She's one of those bloggers that you love to follow; and she's also a great, loyal follower to have!  I love reading her comments - you can tell that she really reads what you post, and always offers encouragement and support.  Her own posts are great - she shares her insights and ideas (and crafts - yay crafts!), and well as tales of her beautiful family.  Hello, look at her header!  Gorgeous family!  :)  So thank you again, Robyn.  I'm glad that our paths crossed!

***

So that nicety brought some sunshine to this dreary Monday.  Love it.  What I do not love so much?  No sleep!  We got back last night around midnight, and having chugged Starbucks during the drive back so I could stay alert on those horrible dark, rainy highways, I found myself in a bit of a pickle.  A caffeinated pickle.  I tried sleeping, I really did.  But I promise you my eyes hit the clock at least once every time a new hour came by.  I guess that caffeinated pickle was coupled with the thoughts of what I have to do today.  Yes, it's RESIGNATION DAY.  I will be submitting both my own and Logan's resignation today.  (Isn't that funny?  Logan's daycare requires a resignation letter.)  Our last day will be October 7.  WOW.  Then it's a trip home (again!  I'm getting so spoiled!) for 12 days.  I've got a bachelorette party and a wedding among other fun, exciting, fall-ish activities.  I hope these next three weeks pass quickly!  I'm looking forward to those things SO much, but what's more, I'm looking forward to returning to be a stay at home mom.  However long or short this lasts, I will cherish it.  I miss staying at home with my little buggy!  

I hope you all had a great weekend!  I've got some more blog-catching-up I need to do... and some work I suppose (but only for 14 more days!).  Have a good Monday!

    

Favorite Finds Friday 9/16

It's Friday!  That means the end of another work week (well, not for me - it means I am home in St. Louis after the long drive last night - yay!).  I decided I really liked finding the crafty goodies out there in blog land, so I will be doing a weekly post of my favorite finds.  (See here for last week's list).  Ok.  Here we go!

Megan over at Miss Madison's Charmed Life whipped together this DARLING tulle table.  It's so whimsical and pretty - it makes me want ta little girl! (Eeek, did I just say that?!)  :)

 

WOW!  Talk about a statement color.  Kelli from The Tourquoise Piano (yes, that's actually the name of her blog!) really highlights her piano by painting it in this gorgeous shade.  I absolutely LOVE it.  I love the idea of a beautiful piece of furniture (such as a piano) being painted in a really wow kind of color.  Hmm... I don't play the piano, but this makes me want to! :)  I need to find a bigger piece of furniture to splash with some color in the new house, I believe...

I've noticed a lot of button art out and about on Pinterest, but Crystal from A Pumpkin and a Princess really made some cute little pieces inspired by the season.  Aren't these adorable?  I LOVE the burlap touch in the background, too. 

Chelsea over at Two Twenty One created this super cute wreath.  Did I mention that my last name begins with "N"?  I want this.  I need this.  It's SO cute.  Thankfully, Chelsea gave a great tutorial on how to make your own wreath of super cuteness.  :)

Ahh... I love blogland and the creativity that lies out there.  Doesn't this inspire you to just jump up and go to Hobby Lobby and start creating?  If it does, take this coupon and GO!  :)  But go today or tomorrow because it expires soon. 

I hope all of you lovelies have a great weekend.  I know I'll be enjoying my time with my family this weekend (again - yay!) and soaking in a bridal shower on Sunday.  It's good to be home.  :)

Lots of Lovin' Weekend Hop - Come link up! :)

Lots of Lovin’ Weekend Blog Hop

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Thankful Thursday

I figured it was about time for another Thankful Thursday post - especially after sucking so much yesterday.

I couldn't resist a caption about this picture.  Isn't this a cute, must-do idea?  Thank you Pinterest!  Ha, I'm thankful for Pinterest. ;)

I'm thankful that (drum roll) I can fit comfortably into the J. Crew jeans that I am wearing today.  I bought these jeans the week after I got married and only had the chance to wear them a few times before I got pregnant.  Thanks to Jillian, and my new eating habits, I am now wearing these jeans again in the first time in almost three years.  It's only been a little over a week since I started my newer, healthier habits, but my body has been responding quite well.  Now - to keep up the good habits - especially during this coming weekend,  because...

I'm thankful that we get to go to St. Louis again this weekend!  Josh (Jake's brother) is having his bachelor party this weekend, and Amy, the soon-to-be wife is having her bridal shower.  (Her bachelorette party is the weekend of October 8 - SO excited for that, too!).  So we're going home this weekend!  Actually, we're leaving tonight, so it'll be a 3 days filled with family, some shopping, and fun.  Oh, but I will have to stick to my healthy habits.  It's just so hard when you stay with your Momma and she has all of that good food around!  ;)

I'm thankful that the move is almost here.  I will be SO happy to leave the apartment/area we've been living in.  I mean, it's all really nice and all, but I'm just ready for a house again.  I'm ready for space.  And as far as the area, Madison is nice and everything, but there is seriously a hippie on every corner.  I'm just ready for the suburbia our new location has to offer.  It really reminds me of where I grew up.  That, I very much like and am thankful for! :) 

I'm thankful for fall!  My favorite season is almost here!  We actually had a frost advisory this morning!  NUTS!  Highs in the 60s for the next week.  Ahh, I love it.  I'm ready for pumpkins, apple picking, the trees changing colors... ooh, marvelous! :)

I'm thankful for all of the wonderful people in my life.  I know I complain a lot, but I've got a family who loves me, great friends, and the sweetest little dude anyone could ever have.  Oops, how could I forget my blog friends?  You guys rock, too!  

Be thankful, be awesome, and have a great Thursday!

 

Today I suck.

source

I don't know what it is, so I am blaming it on Aunt Flo.  Does anyone still call it that?  I think that's the first time I have in forever... Anyway...


Today I am suffering from my biggest vice:  Envy.  Jealousy.  Whatever you'd like to call it.  It's unattractive, negative, and stupid.  I have been doing a pretty good job as of late, not letting it creep in to my thoughts, but today I fail.

I need to focus my attention elsewhere.  I do not want to be that big, mean, green dog.  I want to be the kind, nurturing, giving individual that I so strive to be. 

To be kind I will...

Give out all of the smiles I can -- even to those who do not necessarily deserve it!  ;)

To be nurturing I will...

Let Logan have an extra chunk of bath time to express his artistic abilities.  :)  I must nurture all of his interests, right? 

To be giving, I will...

Donate!  You should too.  Just go here and give whatever you can.  There is so much that I have to be thankful for (including my healthy little boy), and I need to remember that there are others out there who need more support and comfort than my petty issues need.

Vices suck.  However, compensating for them and be quite productive and positive.  What will you do today to compensate?  You know, unless you're perfect.

"Skinny tastes better."

One of my Facebook acquaintances - a wife of one of our friends from college - had this posted as her status:

"____ is right.  Skinny really does taste better.  Thanks for showing me the way."

Common sense lead me to believe (and the conversation thread confirmed) that this meant that this particular acquaintance had begun eliminating all yummy things from her diet in hopes of attaining "skinny".  (More on "skinny" in a minute.)  To that, I say - really?  Skinny tastes better than -

this?

or this?

or this?

 To that, I answer YEAH RIGHT.  I know that this particular person was probably stating that she feels better having lost some weight than one of these delicious treats would have made her feel for a few fleeting minutes.  That, I agree to.  However, it seems this was not the case.  By reading the rather long thread, she seemed a bit preachy to those who commented on her status stating how you can't have any bites of sugar if you are to attain perfection... Ha.  Okay.  I apologize for my rant, but really?  This particular person (and nothing against her, I'm just saying) has posted about 4 different diets in the past 2 months.  So... ehh?

Anyway, this post was really not meant to rag on this acquaintance.  I'm sure she is a lovely person despite what some have said about her... eek, there I go again... (I feel I have to mention that my monthly visitor is here and perhaps that's why I'm less than tactful today?).  Anyway, as I was saying, this post was not meant to rag on her - this post was actually just to be an update on my current get healthy regimen.  Then I just saw that post on Facebook and had to vent about it.  Again - ANYWAY...

Here's what I have been doing to feel/look/be better:

• Jillian Michaels has continued kicking my butt.  As noted before, I find it so easy to fit her butt-whoopings into my schedule (see here).  I'm already rising to the Level 1's challenge of jumping squats.  For those of you that have done this particular work-out, I hope you'd agree that the jumping squats are the most challenging part.  I figure I will be ready for Level 2 soon...
• No more soda.  I have not bought soda in 2 weeks.  I have not bought those flavored packets in 2 weeks.  I am now strictly a water drinker (with a glass of milk here and then).  Well... and coffee.  I just cannot give up caffeine all the way...  No more Diet Coke.  
• I've been making better choices.  Instead of those yummy foods above, I have been making healthier choices.  I've incorporated more veggies and salads into our meals, and really have not felt like I've been missing anything.  This is because I'm not eliminating the yumminess of certain foods.  If I want something, I'm going to have it one way or another.  This leads me to my next point...
• I'm allowing myself to have what I want - either just in moderation or the healthier option available.  In the past, when I've gone on diets, I decided that I could not have anything that tasted delicious.  This would constitute failing.  Um - in my very best Chandler impersonation:  "Could I be setting myself up for failure any more?"  It's just not realistic, and I think this is why I took such offense to the Facebook status.  For example, if I went to the store and bought vegetables only - I would FIND A WAY to get something more tasty - via McDonald's stop or whatever it be.  Wouldn't it be better for me if I were to buy something semi-healthy but still tasty (like Kashi cookies) and have one of those every now and then instead of limiting myself to rabbit food and then falling off the wagon with fries or a huge chocolate bar?  Duh!
• Remember my issue with "skinny"?  I hate that word.  It just looks and sounds so ugly.  I don't want to be skinny.  I need to stop striving for skinny.  I want to be fit.  I want to feel good.  I want to be healthy.  Skinny does not evoke those feelings for me.  Skinny has only negative connotations to me.  Skinny, you suck. 

So...  that's what I've got so far!  My pants are fitting a little more nicely this week than they were last week.  Yay!  AND (this is perhaps the biggest sign of commitment for me) I'm continuing to let Jillian kick my butt and making smarter choices with my food even though it's that horrible time of the month.  For that, I am proud.  :)